lance



CARBONATING APPARATUS Filed NOV. 12, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet l FIG 1 IN VEN TOR.

Feb. 21, 1956 H. E. LANCE 2,735,370 CARBONATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 12, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent 2,735,370 CARBONATIN G APPARATUS HaroldE. Lance, Royal Oak, Mich, assignor to Temprite Products Corporation, Birmingham, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application November 12, 1953, Serial No. 391,563-

8Claims. (Cl. 103-118) The present invention relatesto automatic apparatus for carbonating beverages or. other liquids and has to do more particularly with the type of apparatus in which liquid to be carbonated is introduced under. pressure into the carbonating vessel by means of an automatically, controlled motor-driven pump.

It is an object of the invention to provide apparatus of the character specified in. which the necessary tank, motor, pump and motor control means, together with a supporting structure, are constructed and operatively arranged to achieve remarkably small over-all dimensions for the apparatus.

A further object of the invention, more or less ancillary to that above stated, is to provide a novel supporting structure forxthe other'parts of the apparatus which facilitates" the: attainment of the desired compactness. of the apparatus and which also is of light weight andsusceptible of manufacture at low cost.

With the above stated objects: and other incidental objects in view, the invention consists in certain forms, arrangements and combinations of parts which wil be defiued'in claims appended to the following description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that such specific disclosure is made for purposes of explanation and'that the claims are to be construed'as covering'all mechanical equivalents of the structures defined.

In the drawings,

Fig. l-is a right side elevation of a carbonating apparatus embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary rear elevation of a portion of the electric motor structure.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detached plan view of the carbonator tank.

Fig. Sis a detached plan view of the unitary supporting structure of the improved apparatus together with one of the several separably attached parts of 'the apparatus.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 5.

Fig; 7 is a right side elevation of the same supportingstructure.

Fig. 8 is a front view of signed to cooperate with a ture.

Referring in detail to the construction illustrated, 1 generally designates an upright cylindrical carbonator tank. Numeral 2 similarly designates a rotary liquid pump which is of the positive acting vane type. The numeral 3 generally designates an electric motor of conventional or. standard design which is operatively connected by a flexible coupling 4- to the pump 2. The motor is subject to automatic control by switch and relay devices which may be of Well-known construction and are not shown. The numeral 5 generally designates a supporting-structure for the tank, pump and motor devices mentioned, this supporting structure being fully shown in Figs. 5-8.

a casing closure'member deportion of the supporting struc- Considering the last named figures of the drawings it will be observed that the supporting structure comprises a flat base part 6 formed from sheet metal to provide short depending legs 6a, 6a, at two opposite sides of the base and out-turned flanges 6b, 6b, which are apertured at 60, 60, for attachment by bolts to any suitable support. The metal of base 6 is also flanged downward along a third side at 6:1 so that the flat base is stiffened in two directions by the legs 6:; and the flange 6d. The flat portion of the base is provided with a plurality of apertures 62, 6e, to facilitate attachment of the motor 3.

The supporting structure further comprises an upright part 7 formed from sheet metal which extends across one side of the base 6 with its lower edge resting upon the adjacent base flange 6b. The sheet metal of the part 7 is formed to provide along one upright edge a flange 7a which at its lower part is integrally welded to the depending flange 6d of the base while the main portion of the upright part 7 is similarly welded to the adjacent leg 6a of the base, the welded points being conventionally indicated by the letter x in the Figs. 6 and 7.

A sheet-metal member 8 for support and partial enclosure of relay devices is integrally attached to the upright member 7 by spot welding at points indicated'by the letter x in Fig. 7, the member being formed with three upright walls serving to enclose relay devices on three sides. The integralstructure thus formed'by the parts 6, 7 and 8. constitutes a rigid body which can be con veniently handled as a unit. A horizontal shelf-like part 9 with depending end flanges 9a, 9b is secured between the two sides of part is by screws it), 11. Part 9 is adapted to have the usual switch and transformer parts (not shown) of the relay device attached to it, one above it and the other below it. The shelf 9 and relay parts can conveniently be preassembled and then as a unit secured by the screws 10, 11 in the support part 8. Of course the shelf 9 also serves to brace the side walls of part 8. A separate sheet-metal closure part 12 (Figs. 6 and 8) is shaped to cooperate with the edges of part 8 and serve in connection with the latter to fully enclose the relay devices, the closure part 12 being secured to the part 8 screws 12a.

The carbonator tank 1 is supported on the upright part 7 of the supporting structure 5 by means of a metal clamping band 13 which is rigidly attached by screws 14 to the part 7 and which is formed at its free ends with apertured ears or tabs 13a to receive a clamping bolt 15.

The upright carbonating tank may contain carbonating devicessuch as are shown in my companion application Serial No. 391,562, filed November 12, 1953, but the internal construction of the carbonator is not shown herein since the present invention is not limited to any specific devices for effecting absorption of the CO2 gas in the liquid. For the purpose of explaining the present invention it is sufiicient to point out that the top of the carbonator tank is apertured to receive a liquid inlet fitting 16 and a similar gas inlet fitting 17, both of which may be of conventional construction, including a check valve. The liquid inlet fitting is preferably formed at its aperture to project a jet of the entering liquid downward into the body of liquid in the tank to effect desired mixing" also has a carbo-- of gas and liquid. The top of the tank nated liquid discharge fitting 18 and a gas vale fitting 19. The tank 1 is also electric switch device, generally designated by the numeral 20, which is operated by change of liquid level in the carbonator tank and connected through a cable 21 with control relay mechanism mounted as already described on the upright part 7 of the supporting structure 5. The construction of control switch 20 as well as of the relay derelief or blow-off vices is not shown in the drawing inasmuch as each may be of any of the suitable conventional forms well know inner end with a nozzle provided with an in the art. For example the switch means 20 controlled by the liquid level in the carbonator tank may be of the float actuated type, or of the multiple electrode type illustrated in my above mentioned application Serial No. 391,562, and the relay devices may be such as are shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,249,994.

The liquid inlet fitting 16 of the carbonator is arranged to receive liquid to be carbonated from the pump 2. through flexible conduit 22. This pump, which may be of any suitable construction, as shown is of the positivelyacting rotary vane type and has its casing 2a formed to receive an inlet fitting 23 to which is coupled a strainer fitting 24 that, in turn, may be connected with any source of liquid to be carbonated such, for example, as a water supply system. The pump casing 2a also has a discharge fitting 25 to which the conduit 22 is connected. The pump casing is supported from the stator structure of the motor 3 in a manner which will presently appear.

The electric motor 3, which is of a standard type of construction, comprises a cradle-like base 26, which is secured by bolts 27, 27, to the base part 6 of the main supporting structure. Base 26 has upstanding arms 26a, 26a, which support the bearing bosses of the motor stator structure 3a, the bosses being fitted with bonded rubber rings 28 (Fig. 2) which rest upon the sub-base arms 26a to which they are secured by straps 29, 29, in known manner, the motor stator structure thus being resiliently supported for limited oscillatory movement around the motor axis.

The motor 3 is, of course, connected in suitable manner with a source of current and, by conductors of a flexible cable 30, is connected with the control relay devices previously referred to.

The casing of the pump 2 is rigidly supported from the front end of the stator structure 3a of the motor by means of a casting generally designated by the numeral 31. The casting comprises a rear part 31a which is secured by bolts 32, 32 to the motor stator, a front part 31b and a plurality of arms 31c which integrally connect the rear and front parts. A plurality of bolts 33, 33 secure the pump casing 2a to the front part 3112 of the casting. The shaft 31) of the motor is flexibly connected to the shaft 2b of the pump by means of flexible coupling 4 previously referred to.

The operation of the described apparatus, in so far as the present invention is concerned, will doubtless be understood by those familiar with the carbonator art without further discussion. It may, however, be observed that when the motor-driven pump is started under control of the liquid level switch means and relay devices, the sudden load imposed upon the motor by the positively acting pump is well cushioned by the resilient mounting of the motor, the oscillatory movement of the motor and pump being permitted by the flexible conduit 22 which connects the pump to the carbonator tank rigidly supported on the support structure. Similarly, the flexible cable 30 permits the cushioning movement of the motor without transmitting mechanical vibrations to the control relay devices fixedly supported on the supporting structure.

It will be apparent that the several parts of the apparatus by reason of their design and arrangement provide a selfcontained carbonator apparatus that is exceedingly compact and by reason of the nature of the supporting structure has very small over-all weight in proportion to its capacity. A model of the apparatus having a carbonating capacity of 100 gallons of highly carbonated water per hour weighs 28 pounds and has over-all dimensions of 13 /2" x 9 /2 x12.

- It will also be apparent that the supporting structure is of very simple construction, having parts that are easily fabricated from sheet metal and when assembled by welding provide a strong unitary structure which can be enameled or otherwise finished as a unit, and can be efficiently handled in assembly of the apparatus.

The manner in which the relay devices are mounted, in addition to simplifying and lowering the cost of manufacture, facilitates inspection and repair of these devices.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for carbonating liquids comprising an upright cylindrical tank for receiving gas and liquid to be carbonated; a horizontal electrical motor and pump assembly of which the pump casing is rigidly supported from one end of the stator of the motor for direct drive of the pump by the motor; control means for the motor; a conduit connecting the discharge of the pump to the liquid receiving inlet of the tank; and a separate supporting structure, for the pump and motor assembly, for the control means of the motor and for the carbonator tank, the said structure comprising a bottom sheet-metal base part directly above and on which the electric motor is mounted and from which the pump is supported through its rigid connection with the motor, an upright flat-surfaced sheetmetal part rising from the base part at one side of and closely adjacent to the motor with its major flat surfaces parallel to the motor axis and serving as a support for the motor control means, and a flexible clamping band rigidly secured to the upright part of the supporting structure adjacent the pump end of the motor and embracing and supporting the tank.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the electric motor comprises a base on which the stator of the motor is resiliently supported for oscillation about the motor axis and which motor base is itself rigidly mounted on the base part of the supporting structure and in which the conduit connecting the pump discharge to the carbonator tank is of flexible construction.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the base and upright parts of the separate supporting structure are integrally bonded together to constitute a rigid unitary structure.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which the separate supporting structure comprises a member integrally bonded to the upright part of the structure and formed to support and partially enclose electric motor control means.

5. A supporting structure for electric motor-driven apparatus comprising a horizontally disposed sheet-metal base formed to receive and capable of supporting an electric motor on its upper side; an upright sheet-metal part having a large flat surface rising from one side of the base part, the base and upright parts being integrally bonded together; and an encloseure for motor control devices comprising a first metal sheet bent at right angles on two upright lines to form three upright walls of such enclosure, the middle wall of which is integrally bonded to the flat surface of the upright part of the supporting structure, a second metal sheet bent at right angles on two horizontal lines to detachably engage the edge parts of the first enclosure sheet to enclose the space between the mutually opposite walls of the'latter, and a horizontal sheet-metal shelf detachably secured between the said opposite walls in position to afford two enclosed spaces respectively above and below the shelf for control devices secured respectively on the top and bottom sides of the shelf, the shelf serving to connect and brace the opposite walls of the first enclosure sheet.

6. A supporting structure for electric motor-driven apparatus comprising a horizontally disposed quadrangular sheet-metal base part formed to support on its upper side a motor and pump assembly and having two opposite edge portions bent downwardly and outwardly to engage a flat supporting surface and a third edge portion bent downwardly to additionally stiffen the horizontal portion of the base part; and an upright sheet-metal part formed with an upright right-angle bend and integrally bonded at its lower side to two of the downwardly bent edge portions of the said base part so as to embrace the corner of the base part formed by the said two downwardly bent edge portions.

7. A supporting structure for electric motor-driven carbonating apparatus, the said structure comprising a horizontally disposed quadrangular sheet-metal base part formed to support on its upper side a motor and pump assembly and having two opposite edge portions bent downwardly and outwardly to engage a fiat supporting surface and a third edge portion bent downwardly to additionally stiffen the horizontal portion of the base part; an upright sheet-metal part having a large fiat surface rising from one side of the base part and being formed with an upright right-angle bend and integrally bonded at its lower side to two of the downwardly bent edge portions of the said base part so as to embrace the corner of the base part formed by the said two downwardly bent edge portions; and a flexible supporting band rigidly attached to the upright part of the supporting structure and adapted to embrace and hold an upright cylindrical carbonation tank.

8. A supporting structure for electric motor-driven carbonating apparatus, the said structure comprising a horizontally disposed quadrangular sheet-metal base part formed to support on its upper side a motor and pump assembly and having two opposite edge portions bent downwardly and outwardly to engage a flat supporting surface and a third edge portion bent downwardly to additionally stiffen the horizontal portion of the base part; an upright sheet-metal part having a large fiat surface rising from one side of the base with an upright right-angle bend part and being formed and integrally bonded at its lower side to two of the downwardly bent edge porstructure.

upright walls of References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Kannenberg Nov. 14, Smith May 21, Bihl et a1. Oct. 18, Thomas May 16, Henderson Jan. 23, Haven Dec. 25, Newton July 8, Heath July 11, Lechtenberg Aug. 9, Kantor et al Feb. 17,

Furnas et al Mar. 23,

o embrace the corner two downwardly bent us for motor control ent at right angles on such ch is integrally bonded right part of the supporting 

1. APPARATUS FOR CARBONATING LIQUIDS COMPRISING AN UPRIGHT CYLINDRICAL TANK FOR RECEIVING GAS AND LIQUID TO BE CARBONATED; A HORIZONTAL ELECTRICAL MOTOR AND PUMP ASSEMBLY OF WHICH THE PUMP CASING IS RIGIDLY SUPPORTED FROM ONE END OF THE STATOR OF THE MOTOR FOR DIRECT DRIVE OF THE PUMP BY THE MOTOR; CONTROL MEANS FOR THE MOTOR; A CONDUIT CONNECTING THE DISCHARGE OF THE PUMP TO THE LIQUID RECEIVING INLET OF THE TANK; AND A SEPARATE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE, FOR THE PUMP AND MOTOR ASSEMBLY, FOR THE CONTROL MEANS OF THE MOTOR AND FOR THE CARBONATOR TANK, THE SAID STRUCTURE COMPRISING A BOTTOM SHEET-METAL BASE PART DIRECTLY ABOVE AND ON WHICH THE ELECTRIC MOTOR IS MOUNTED AND FROM WHICH THE PUMP IS SUPPORTED THROUGH ITS RIGID CONNECTION WITH THE MOTOR, AN UPRIGHT FLAT-SURFACED SHEETMETAL PART RISING FROM THE BASE PART AT ONE SIDE OF AND CLOSELY ADJACENT TO THE MOTOR WITH ITS MAJOR FLAT SURFACES PARALLEL TO THE MOTOR AXIS AND SERVING AS A SUPPORT FOR THE MOTOR CONTROL MEANS, AND A FLEXIBLE CLAMPING BAND RIGIDLY SECURED TO THE UPRIGHT PART OF THE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE ADJACENT THE PUMP END OF THE MOTOR AND EMBRACING AND SUPPORTING THE TANK. 